Schlüsselwörter

Chronic experimental E. coli pyelonephritis in the rabbit

Summary

Pyelonephritis caused by E. coli bacteria plays an important part in the pathogenesis of chronic renal failure in man. Several experimental models in animals were able to imitate similiar infections, but chronic E. coli pyelonephritis could not be produced.

We developed a model in which a direct approach to the renal pelvis of rabbits was provided by a plastic catheter. In this way, selected bacterial strains could be injected in the pelvis. The course of the developing chronic pyelonephritis was followed up. Beside of the bacteriologic identification of bacteria in the urine, the determination of heterologous serum antibodies was useful. Microscopic examination showed alterations of chronic pyelonephritis in the kidneys. The course and eventual healing of such an experimentally induced pyelonephritis can be controlled by repeated function tests. The determination of different antibody fractions in the serum seems to be helpful in gaining a better knowledge of the course of this desease.